Cattle Count Off One Percent
For The Year At 96.7 Million

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled an estimated 96.7 million head, down one percent from the 97.3 million for the same date last year and two percent below the 2000 total of 98.2 million.

The current inventory is the smallest in more than 20 years.

All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.2 million, were down one percent from both last January's 42.6 million and the 42.8 million estimated for 2000. Beef cows, at 33.1 million, were down one percent from both last year and two years ago. Milk cows totaled 9.11 million, down one percent from both years.

Heifers weighing 500 pounds or more totaled 19.7 million, down slightly from last year. Beef replacement heifers, at 5.56 million, were also down slightly. Milk replacement heifers, at 4.06 million, were up slightly. "Other heifers," at 10.1 million, were down one percent.

Steers weighing 500 pounds or more totaled 16.8 million, up two percent. Bulls in the same weight category came to 2.24 million, down one percent.

Calves weighing less than 500 pounds, at 15.8 million, were down three percent. The combined total of calves under 500 pounds and other heifers and steers over 500 pounds but outside of feedlots was 28.8 million, up one percent.

The 2001 calf crop was estimated at 38.3 million head, down one percent from both 2000 and 1999. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 28.1 million, down one percent from both previous years.

The number of operations running cattle during 2001 totaled an estimated 1.05 million, down two percent from 2000 and four percent fewer than in 1999. Beef cow operations were down two and four percent, milk cow operations down seven and 12 percent.